An IT worker has turned his passion for vintage electronics and retro design into a remarkable DIY achievement — transforming his modern living room into a 1970s-inspired time capsule for just $625.
Ryan Nicholson, 31, spent 25 days revamping the living space of his new-build home near Goole, East Yorkshire, creating a nostalgic tribute to a decade often dubbed “the style that time forgot.” Despite being born two decades after the era, Ryan’s dedication to capturing the authentic '70s vibe has turned heads and earned admiration.
"It was a new build, so it was just a bare shell — no carpets, blinds or anything like that. It just had a kitchen and stuff like that," Ryan explained. "It took quite a while of saving to get to this position, but I'm quite pleased with what I managed to accomplish."
His living room now features orange and brown patterned wallpaper, retro artwork, lava lamps and carefully selected period furniture. Ryan sourced nearly all the décor second-hand, scouring Facebook Marketplace, car boot sales and a local antiques shop. Excluding his high-end Hi-Fi, the entire transformation came in at just $625.
“The sofa was $63, the sideboard was $31 and the corner unit was $63. I haven't spent a lot on the furniture,” he said.
Ryan's love for old electronics began early. “I've always been drawn to old electronics, that's always been one of my big interests. I've been into this stuff since I was like 9 years old,” he shared. “Back then I was into old gramophones and stuff like that, now it's gone more towards the '60s and '70s era, so a bit later.”
His centerpiece is a $6,250 Hi-Fi setup that cleverly bridges eras — allowing him to record music streamed online onto vintage formats like audio cassette, 8-track and even Sony Elcaset. “You can record onto audio cassette, 8-track or Sony Elcaset, which is a really rare format developed by Sony in the late '70s,” he explained. “Tapes are so difficult to find now. My machine came with 15 blanks, so I was quite lucky, but they go for like $75 each on eBay now. Prices since COVID have gone ridiculous.”
Though Ryan’s parents initially questioned his vision, they were ultimately impressed. “My mum and dad think I'm a bit nuts, really, because they obviously lived through the '70s,” he laughed. “Since it's been done, because I had the vision in my head of what it was going to look like, they said it looks a lot better than they imagined. It actually looks really smart.”
The reaction hasn’t been universally positive, but Ryan embraces the charm of the era. “It's not to everyone's taste, I know that. A few people have said it looks like Del Boy's apartment in Only Fools and Horses, but I really like it.”
With his living room now a completed passion project, Ryan has his sights set on the kitchen next. “The kitchen is a brand new kitchen, I don't really want to mess with it yet,” he said. “When I get the funds, I'd like to get a vintage kitchen, or something that looks a bit vintage.”
"A '70s kitchen, you still had your microwave and stuff like that. It's more just an aesthetics thing really. I quite like greens, oranges and browns — earthy colors. I'm not really into grays and whites.”
Ryan’s dedication to preserving the charm of the 1970s shows how vision, passion and resourcefulness can breathe new life — and old soul — into any modern space.
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